Fix a Weak Wi-Fi Signal

A weak signal shows up as frequent disconnects, one-bar rooms, or speeds that collapse the moment you walk away from the router.

Router placement solves this more often than any setting.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Move your router away from thick walls, metal cabinets, and other electronics — especially cordless phones and microwaves.
2. Put the router in a central, elevated spot, like a shelf, so the signal spreads evenly.
3. Keep the router out in the open — not on the floor, behind a TV, or inside a cupboard.
4. Test the problem room again. If it’s still a dead zone, a mesh Wi-Fi system or range extender will cover it.

Helpful tips

• Walls — especially concrete and brick — cut Wi-Fi signal far more than furniture does.
• Every floor between you and the router matters: if possible, keep it on the same floor you use most.
• Note which rooms are weak before buying a mesh system, so you know how many nodes you need.